We all know and some of us love Israel's current policy of having a very tough stance on Palestinians, and for the most part, Sharon has (had?) a lot of support for his stance.

However:

1. It isn't working! More and more Palestians are killed by this policy, and more and more Isralies die! It's been said before, and it's a bit of a cliché but it IS a vicious cycle. Palestian suicide bomber causing Israeli attack causing palestian suicide bomber etc. It seems that the Palestians can't/won't stop the cycle, so why doesn't Israel at least try? The military approach OBVIOUSLY doesn't work (as the last few days have shown) and gives the Palestians a bigger excuse for what they are doing.

2. Isreal wants to be a big world power. Fair enough. But how many western-world superpowers are involved in tit-for-tat military attacks with it's neighbour? Israel continually critises the US and the EU goes against the wishes of these super-powers continually. Israel should start respecting the rest of the world and actually pay attention to what the US and the EU says.

BTW, i'm not supporting the Palestian attacks, as some of you will probably say, and if you don't agree, argue instead of just calling me an anti-Israel idiot.

The military approach OBVIOUSLY doesn't work (as the last few days have shown) and gives the Palestians a bigger excuse for what they are doing.

Well do you have another idea? And there is no excuse for bombing children. None. It shows these Palestinian terrorists for the animals they are.

Isreal wants to be a big world power

What are you talking about? Israel wants to live in peace and prosperity. Period.

how many western-world superpowers are involved in tit-for-tat military attacks with it's neighbour?

Well how many "western-world superpowers" are being terrorized daily in this savage and putrid way? How many countries at all actually?

Israel continually critises the US

Again, what are you talking about???

EU goes against the wishes of these super-powers continually.

"these super-powers"? Which super-powers, what are you talking about???

Israel should start respecting the rest of the world and actually pay attention to what the US and the EU says.

Oh please, first of all israel will pay attention to the needs of its citizens to live in peace and prosperity before paying attention to the "rest of the world". What does the "rest of the world" know better about the mideast conflict that Israel doesn't? What has the "rest of the world" done for Israel that would make Israel have any interest in following their recomendations or taking their advice?

Are the Palestinians "respecting the rest of the world" and ending deadly terroristic suidice bombings in children's dance halls and pizza parlors?

Israel and the US have an extraordinarily close relationship so I think its fair to say Israel pays very close attention to what comes from Washington. Trust me on that

argue instead of just calling me an anti-Israel idiot.

How's that for discussion? And I agree name calling is a waiste of time and makes the accuser look like an idiot.

What are you talking about? Israel wants to live in peace and prosperity. Period.

Are you saying Israel doesn't want to be a major player on the world stage? Sharon and others would jump at the possibility.

Well how many "western-world superpowers" are being terrorized daily in this savage and putrid way? How many countries at all actually?

Spain - ETA, UK - IRA (in the past). Both terrorist organisations have killed dozens, and at times were killing very regularly.

"these super-powers"? Which super-powers, what are you talking about???

How many times has Israel ignored the US when she's called for more negotiations and less violence?

"these super-powers"? Which super-powers, what are you talking about???

Typo on my behalf. Should have read, "...the US and the EU, and goes against the wishes of these super-powers continually.

Oh please, first of all israel will pay attention to the needs of its citizens to live in peace and prosperity before paying attention to the "rest of the world". What does the "rest of the world" know better about the mideast conflict that Israel doesn't? What has the "rest of the world" done for Israel that would make Israel have any interest in following their recomendations or taking their advice?

The rest of the world has done quite a lot for Israel. Are you saying that without support from other countries, Israel would survive? Israel should stop being so arrogant towards other countries, spefically the US and those in the EU.

Are the Palestinians "respecting the rest of the world" and ending deadly terroristic suidice bombings in children's dance halls and pizza parlors?

Yes, I agree the Palestians are to blame for the majority, but Israel isn't blameless. The current policy isn't working, and Israel should do all it can to stop these attacks from happening, even if it has to stop the attacks and call in foreign negotiators to help.

Israel and the US have an extraordinarily close relationship so I think its fair to say Israel pays very close attention to what comes from Washington. Trust me on that

Yes, I realise just how close relations are, yet there have been quite a few instances where Israel has just ignored pressure from the US and others and gone ahead with policies that have angered the US and others.

EVERYONE seems to be so sorry for the Israeli people, but when the Israelis SHELL a car taking a MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN to school, no one gives a rats arse. The ONLY people who can stop this are the Israelis. It is OBVIOUS the Palestinians will not stop this violence.

1. Israel can ONLY be a regional power, not a world power 777236ER. I don't know why you think they want to be a world power. They are too small, physically, to be so.

2. Like Twaneedsnohelp said, what are YOUR alternatives. You're awful fast and loose condemning Israel for their policies, yet you offer no suggestions as to the alternative. If you suggest they stop defending themselves, they'll tell you what we'll tell you-go jump in a nice, deep, cold lake.

3. And Goodbye, as usual, you're all wrong, but that's nothing new. Israel could stop the attacks RIGHT NOW, yet the attacks from the scumbags-your friends at Hamas and Hezbollah, would NOT STOP!! If you think they would, you're a bigger nut than I thought. Actually, I have a sneaking suspicion you don't WANT these thugs to stop.

4. There's a difference between an innocent dying in a bombing from an airplane or helicopter, Goodbye, and in someone strapping a bomb to themselves, then parking themself in between dozens of civilians. But you're so far into the camp of the terrorists yourself that you can't see that.

I think its a Catch-22 for the Israeli's. A lose lose situation. What are they supposed to do?

I think they have every right to retaliate against the Palestinians for all the terrorist attacks against their civilians. But this in no way stops the terrorist attacks, as we can obviously see.

But then if Israel doesn't carry out its military action, it just allows the terrorists to "breed" in the West Bank, and you won't see any decrease in terrorism, perhaps even worse terrorism. Its been shown in the past that even when they are at peace, the Palestinians continue to carry out terrorist attacks.